Battery conditioning system having communication with battery parameter memory means in conjunction with battery conditioning

ABSTRACT

In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. In the case of a non-portable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g. rated battery capacity) and/or battery usage (e.g. numbers of shallow discharge and recharge cycles), and after a conditioning operation, the conditioning system can transmit to the portable unit a measured value of battery capacity, for example.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of our co-pending application Ser. No. 07/168,352,filed Mar. 15, 1988 entitled: "BATTERY CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAVINGCOMMUNICATION WITH BATTERY PARAMETER MEMORY MEANS IN CONJUNCTION WITHBATTERY CONDITIONING".

Reference also is made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to pending applicationU.S. Ser. No. 944,503 filed Dec. 18, 1986. Said pending applicationrefers under 35 U.S.C. §120 to earlier applications U.S. Ser. No.876,194 filed June 19, 1986 (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,202 issued Nov. 24,1987), and U.S. Ser. No. 797,235 filed Nov. 12, 1985 (now U.S. Pat. No.4,716,354 issued Dec. 29, 1987. Said applications Ser. No. 797,235 andSer. No. 876,194 refer, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120 to earlierapplication Ser. No. 612,588 filed May 21, 1984 (now U.S. Pat. No.4,553,081 issued Nov. 12, 1985), which is a continuation-in-part ofearlier application Ser. No. 385,830 filed June 7, 1982 (now U.S. Pat.No. 4,455,523 issued June 19, 1984), and all four of these earlierapplications are also referred to herein in accordance with theprovisions of 35 U.S.C. §120.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosures and drawings of the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos.4,455,523 and 4,553,081, and of the pending application U.S. Ser. No.944,503 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a battery conditioning system forbattery means of portable computerized devices, and particularly to ahand-held device including data storage means for storing data pertinentto the battery means of the device, and to a battery conditioningcontrol system including an external charging circuit equipped forcommunication with data storage means of the hand-held device and/or ofthe battery means operatively associated with such device. Preferablythe control system is capable of optimizing the performance of arechargeable electrochemical storage medium while at the same timemaximizing its useful life. The invention also relates to controlsystems generally, and to control systems forming part of hand-heldunits.

Portable computerized systems are presently being extensively utilizedin a wide range of applications. For example, such systems may beutilized in delivery vehicles which are to be away from a centralwarehouse or the like for a major part of each working day. Rechargingoperations may take place in locations subject to extremes oftemperature. It is particularly crucial to avoid an equipment failurewhere a portable device is a vital link to the completion of scheduledtasks at remote locations and the like. In such circumstances, a loss ofadequate battery power can be just as detrimental as any othermalfunction.

Particularly where the battery conditioning control system is to beincorporated in hand-held devices, such control system should belightweight and compact, and should consume minimum power. For the sakeof economy, a microprocessor of a standard design and of minimumcomplexity, is highly desirable.

It is conceived that a particularly advantageous battery conditioningsystem is achieved where significant portions of the conditioningcircuitry are external to the battery operated portable device, andwhere the portable device contains data storage means which is capableof reliably and flexibly providing information e.g. to the externalcircuitry for optimizing battery conditioning operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a basic objective of the present invention to achieve aconditioning system for hand-held battery powered devices providingincreased reliability and useful life, and particularly to provide acharging system for hand-held devices wherein charging operation can bebased on the use history and/or other relevant information concering thespecific battery means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a control systemparticularly adapted to control battery conditioning of a variety ofrechargeable battery means, automatically adaptable to hand-held deviceshaving battery means of different types such as to require differentconditioning parameters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a charging current controlsystem for battery powered portable devices which is not onlylightweight and compact but which consumes minimum power, and whichpreferably is adapted to be implemented as an integrated circuit of aneconomical and simple construction.

An exemplary feature of the invention resides in the provision of abattery conditioning system receptive of different hand-held devices andcapable of communication therewith, e.g., to determine the type ofconditioning required for respective different internal battery meansthereof.

A further feature of the invention relates to a battery conditioningsystem wherein the system can obtain a relatively accurate indication ofthe battery energy remaining available for use for one type or aplurality of different types of batteries, and supply the results to amemory means accompanying the battery means during portable operation.

For the sake of recharging of a battery system as rapidly as possiblewithout detriment to an optimum useful life span, battery parametersincluding battery temperature can be monitored and transmitted to aconditioning system during a charging cycle, and the battery chargingcurrent can be adjusted accordingly.

Since a battery may deteriorate when subjected to repeated shallowdischarge and recharging cycles, according to the present invention, acount of such shallow charge cycles may be automatically maintainedthroughout the operating life of the battery system, such that deepdischarge cycles may be effected as necessary to maintain desiredperformance standards.

Furthermore, according to another highly significant feature of theinvention, automatically operating battery monitoring and/orconditioning circuitry may be secured with the battery pack for handlingas a unit therewith. The monitoring circuitry may receive its operatingpower from the battery pack during storage or handling such that a totalhistory of the battery pack may be retained for example in a volatilememory circuit where such type of memory otherwise provides optimumcharacteristics for a portable system. The conditioning circuitry mayhave means for effecting a deep discharge cycle, and concomitantly withthe deep discharge cycle, a measure of actual battery capacity may beobtained. From such measured battery capacity and a continuousmeasurement of battery current during portable operation, a relativelyaccurate "fuel gauge" function becomes feasible such that the risk ofbattery failure during field operation can be essentially eliminated.The performance of a given type of battery in actual use can beaccurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a countof accumulated hours of use, and other relevant parameters.

In a simplified system in successful use, the conditioning system isincorporated in the portable utilization device such that the programmedprocessor of the utilization device may itself automatically effect adeep discharge conditioning cycle and/or a deep discharge capacity test.The deep discharge cycle may be effected at a controlled rate, such thatthe time for discharge from a fully charged condition to a selecteddischarge condition may itself represent a measure of battery capacity.Instead of directly measuring battery current during use, the programmedprocessor may maintain a measure of operating time and/or elapsed timeduring portable operation, so as to provide an indication of remainingbattery capacity. A time measure of operating time may be utilized toautomatically determine the time duration of the next changing cycle.When both a main battery and a back-up battery are present, theoperating time of each may be individually accumulated, and used tocontrol the time duration of the respective recharging operations.

Additional features of a commercial system in successful use includeindividual charging and discharging circuits for a main battery and aback-up battery for reliable conditioning of the back-up batteryindependently of the state of the main battery. Desired parameters suchas main battery voltage, ambient temperature (e.g. in the main batterycase or in the battery compartment), and charging voltage may beobtained by means of an integrated circuit analog to digital converter,which thus replaces several comparators and may precision costlycomponents of a prior implementation.

While in an early embodiment, battery charging current was set using adigital to analog converter to establish a set point for an analogcurrent control loop, it is a feature of a further embodiment herein toprovide a digital computer for both computing a desired current setpoint and for modulating current pulses in the battery charging circuitfor maintaining a desired average current. Preferably, a computercircuit with a moderate clock rate may determine current pulsemodulation steps and control sampling of actual current pulses forpurposes of generating a feedback signal. An aliasing type of samplingsystematically taken at different phases of the actual current pulsewaveform enables use of a particularly low sampling rate.

In a further significant development of the invention, importantportions of the conditioning circuitry are external to the batteryoperated portable device, and yet information specific to a givenbattery means is retained with the portable device. In an exemplaryimplementation, a computer operating means of the portable device isprogrammed and provided with battery information sufficient to select anoptimum battery charging rate, for example, e.g., a fast charge or amaintenance charge, and preferably to adjust the charge rate e.g. basedon a measure of battery temperature. In a presently preferred system, anexternal standardized charging circuit has a default condition wherein acharging current is supplied suitable to older types of terminals. Sucha charging circuit, however, can be controlled by the computer operatingmeans of preferred types of portable devices so as to override thedefault charging rate. In this way charging rate may be a function notonly of a respective rated battery capacity, but also of otherparameters such as battery terminal voltage prior to coupling of theportable device with the charging circuit and/or extent of use of theportable device after a previous charge. In certain applications withhigh peaks of battery drain, e.g. R. F. terminals, it is advantageous toavoid a resistance in series with the battery for measuring batterydrain during use; an alternate approach measuring operating time invarious modes can then be particularly attractive. An advantageous datacommunication coupling between a portable device computer operatingmeans and a charging circuit is via a data storage register and digitalto analog converter. The register can be operated from a battery meanswhile the computer operating means may be in a sleep mode, for example,once the register has received a suitable computer generated command.The digital to analog converter need only be active during a batterycharging cycle and can be decoupled from the battery means duringportable operation. Such a digital to analog converter is particularlysuitable for generating an analog control signal for overriding adefault setting of a standardized charging circuit such as describedhereinabove.

In a new RF terminal unit, it is conceived that it may be advantageousto make the output of a battery temperature measuring transduceravailable at an external contact of the terminal so that a low costcharger could supply a charging current taking account of a relativelyaccurate measure of battery temperature. Further by making temperaturetransducer (nonzero) output dependent on the presence of chargingpotential at the terminal, the same temperature sensing line provides anindication as to whether charging potential is present.

The invention will now be described, by way of example and not by way oflimitation, with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings; andother objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom this detailed disclosure and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 17 and the brief description thereof are incorporatedherein by reference to U.S. Ser. No. 876,194, now U.S. Pat. No.4,709,202 issued Nov. 24, 1987.

FIG. 18 is an electric circuit diagram for illustrating a preferredembodiment of battery charging current control system in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 19 shows an exemplary current pulse waveform which may correspondwith a maximum battery charging rate in a substantially linear operatingrange for an exemplary control system in accordance with FIG. 18;

FIG. 20A shows selected control pulses which may be generated duringcontrol of battery charging current in the control system of FIG. 18,and FIG. 20B shows respective corresponding battery charging currentpulses on the same time scale with vertically aligned portions of thewaveforms of FIGS. 20A and 20B occurring at the same time;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view of use in explaining the aliased samplingof actual current pulses in the battery charging circuit, andillustrating the case where thirty-two samples form a complete samplingcycle;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram for illustrating exemplary sampling circuitryfor association with the V sense input of the processor means of FIG.18;

FIG. 23 illustrates a battery conditioning system as described at col.17, lines 51-68 of the incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,523, and whereintwo-way communication may be established between memory means associatedwith a portable unit comprised of rechargeable battery means, and anon-portable central computer controlled conditioning station;

FIG. 24 shows a battery conditioning system wherein a batteryidentifying circuit element directly controls the set point of a batterycharging circuit to determine a battery charging parameter, e.g.,battery charging current;

FIG. 25 shows a highly integrated semiconductor device, e.g. forimplementing the system of FIGS. 18-22;

FIG. 26 is an electric circuit block diagram showing a batteryconditioning system wherein a preferred hand-held terminal unit containsbattery parameter sensing means and computer operating means foroptimizing battery charging current as supplied by an external circuit(which may correspond with a standardized circuit such a shown in FIG.24 applicable to a complte family of hand-held terminals); and

FIG. 27 shows a new RF terminal unit including charge control andtemperature transducer outputs as in FIG. 26, and also incorporating aninterface for coupling with a local area network so as to enable batchtransmission of data to and from the RF terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of FIGS. 1 through 17 is incorporated herein byreference to the specification at col. 4, line 25, through col. 66, line4, of the incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,202.

Description of FIGS. 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21 and 22

FIG. 18 shows processor means such as an integrated circuitmicroprocessor 18-10 which may form part of a circuit package of abattery pack 18-12. The circuit package may be secured with arechargeable battery means 18-20, an association of such parts beingshown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. During a battery chargingoperation, a battery charging means such as 12-24, FIG. 12, may providea charging potential to a hand held computer unit such as 71, FIG. 5,and the unit 71 may supply an operating voltage +V to microprocessor18-10 and may supply a charging potential +CHG to a series circuitincluding a current switch or current regulator means 18-22, an energystorage inductor means 18-24, battery means 18-20, and a current senseresistor 18-26. The processor means 18-10 may supply to line 18-27rectangular pulses of a voltage waveform Vsw as shown in FIG. 20A. Theduration or active duty cycle of the voltage pulses of waveform Vsw ismodulated in discrete modulation steps to vary the turn-on time ofswitch means 18-22, and thus to vary battery charging current.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 8, battery means 18-20 may havebattery charging parameter sensing means associated therewith asindicated at 18-28. Such parameter sensing means may have a batterytemperature sensing transducer 18-30 corresponding to transducer 134,FIG. 9-A, and transducer 18-30 may be physically disposed in heattransfer relation to battery pack 18-12 as indicated in FIG. 18.

In the embodiment of FIG. 18, processor means 18-10 may be controlled bya constant frequency means such as crystal 18-32. The clock rate ofcrystal 18-32 may be used to synchronize turn on of switch means 18-22so that active duty cycles are initiated at a uniform time interval ofless than one microsecond and may provide a desired number of modulationsteps for the active duty cycle of the turn-on waveform Vsw. By way ofexample, the operating frequency of crystal 18-32 may be six megahertz(i.e. thirty-two times a duty cycle frequency of 187.5 kilohertz) andmay provide a time interval between activations of switch means 18-22 of5.3333 microseconds with each such time interval being subdivided intothirty-two modulation steps. A moderate operating frequency of crystal18-32 is favorable for a control system with low energy consumption, andan economical processor means.

In the above example, the turn-on time of switch means 18-22 may havedifferent possible time durations per cycle corresponding to respectivedifferent numbers of the thirty-two modulation steps. The modulationsteps may represent increments of 166.7 nanoseconds in the time durationof the active duty cycle of the waveform Vsw at line 18-27. Essentially,maximum current flow an inductor 18-24 may correspond with a turn-ontime corresponding to at least sixty percent of the maximum availableon-time of switch means 18-22. For example, current flow may increaserelatively linearly as represented in FIG. 19 by sloping line 19-1 fornumbers of time increments between zero and twenty or more. The circuitof FIG. 18 includes means such as diode 18-36 for maintaining currentflow when switch means 18-22 is turned off, the circuit preferablyproviding a current decay characteristic generally as indicated at 19-2in FIG. 19. Generally the current may decay to zero in less thanone-half of the turn-on time of switch means 18-22, for the case ofactive duty cycles which provide a linear characteristic such as 19-1.For example, if the peak value 19-3 in FIG. 19 corresponds to twentytime increments or 3.33 microseconds (20 times 166.7 nanoseconds equals3.33 microseconds), then the decay interval may be less than tenincrements, i.e. less than 1.67 microseconds.

FIG. 20A shows turn-on pulses Vsw of relatively constant duration,corresponding to numbers of turn-on increments, e.g. n1=16, n2=17,n3=17, n4=18.

FIG. 20B shows the corresponding current flow in inductance 18-24,designated I(L) and the corresponding battery charging current I(CHG).

In each case, the rising current characteristics 20-1 to 20-4 are linearwhere the number of increments is less than the number corresponding topeak 19-3 in FIG. 19.

In FIG. 18, current sense resistance 18-26 is of a value much less thanthe resistance of battery means 18-20; for example, resistance means18-26 may have a resistance value of 0.1 ohm. FIG. 20B thus alsorepresents the waveform Vsense supplied at line 18-38 of FIG. 18, forthe respective durations of Vsw of FIG. 20A. The processor means 18-10includes analog to digital converter channels such as that associatedwith resistor 135, FIG. 9A, so that the battery temperature analogsignal at 18-40 and the battery current analog signal at 18-38 may beconverted into corresponding digital values.

While waveforms such as those represented in FIG. 20B would normally besampled at a relatively high rate in comparison with the operatingfrequency of component 18-32, in a preferred embodiment the samplingrate of the pulsating analog waveform at line 18-38 is made lower thanthe rate of component 18-32 and preferably less than the active dutycycle frequency of waveform Vsw. Thus, the analog to digital convertermeans of processor 18-10 preferably deliberately under samples thecurrent sense line 18-38 to alias the charging current waveform I(CHG)to a very low frequency.

For the example of a repetition rate Fsw for the active duty cycles ofwaveform Vsw of 187.5 kilohertz, sampling may take place roughly at aframe sampling rate of 1/64 Fsw or roughly 2929 hertz. The actualaliasing sampling rate, however, is not precisely synchronized with theswitch activation rate Fsw, but differs slightly therefrom, for example,by one time increment or duty cycle modulation step of waveform Vsw,e.g. by a time increment of 166.7 nanoseconds per frame interval. Thisexample of sampling can be visualized if the successive pulses of Vsw assupplied to line 18-27, FIG. 18, are identified as S=1, S=2, S=3, etc.,and if the pulses of FIG. 20B are then considered to correspond to Vswpulse numbers S=1, S=65, S=129 and S=193, as indicated in FIG. 20A, andif the successive sampling points are identified as ns1, ns2, ns3, ns4,etc.

If there are thirty-two different possible sampling points of each Vswpulse, then FIG. 20B illustrates successive sampling points ns=1, ns=2,ns=3 and ns=4. In this example, one complete scan of the pulseconfiguration of the Vsense waveform at line 18-38 would take place foreach 2049 Vsw pulses.

The resultant sample waveform for a complete sampling cycle isdiagrammatically indicated in FIG. 21 for the example of sampling asrepresented in FIGS. 20A and 20B.

If the frame sampling rate for the Vsense waveform on line 18-38 isroughly 1/256 Fsw, or about 732.42 hertz, then with one time incrementof 167 nanoseconds added for each sampling frame, an actual samplingfrequency of about 732.33 hertz results corresponding to 1.3655milliseconds per sample. If thirty-two sample points of the Vsensewaveform are scanned per complete sampling cycle, then one completesampling cycle corresponds to 0.043696 second, or a frequency of 22.88hertz.

After each sample of the Vsense waveform, a corresponding averagecurrent value can be computed, by adding the most recent sample value(e.g., at ns33, FIG. 21) and subtracting the oldest sample value (e.g.sample ns1, FIG. 21), so that a new average current would be calculatedat each 1.3655 milliseconds for the case of a sampling frequency ofabout 732.33 hertz. A sample and hold circuit may retain the sampledvalue of Vsense during the analog to digital conversion process.

The preferred embodiment with an aliased sampling rate is consideredapplicable to current measurements where changes in the current waveformpulses are relatively slow, e.g. slower than the rate of change shown inFIG. 20B, where the alternating polarity component of the Vsense voltageaverages out over a complete sampling cycle, and where the need fordynamic regulation of the current I(L) is minimal, i.e. the averagedirect current level per complete sampling cycle is the critical valueto be regulated.

The slow rate aliasing type of sampling is useful to adapt the samplingfrequency to that feasible with an economical and simple processingmeans 18-10 (e.g. a type 8048 microprocessor). Other aliasing samplingapproaches could operate by scanning at a desired frame interval lessone pulse, e.g. for the example of FIGS. 20A and 20B to sample Vsense atVsw pulses corresponding to S=1, ns1=1; S=64, ns2=32; S=128, ns3=31;S=192, ns4=30; etc. Other schemes to scan the Vsense signal could bothskip frames and slip sample points, e.g. sampling Vsense at Vsw pulsescorresponding to S=1, ns1=1; S=128, ns2=32; S=256; ns3=31; S=384,ns4=30; etc., or S=1, ns1=1; S=129, ns2=2; S=257, ns2=3; S=385, ns4=4,etc.

By way of example, processor 18-10 may read battery temperature viainput 18-40 at ten second intervals, and adjust the charging current setpoint value accordingly at each ten second reading of temperature. Anoise filter in the form of a digital algorithm may insure that theactual digital current readings based on Vsense are free of disruptivenoise.

By way of example, if the waveform of FIG. 19 corresponds to a durationof Vsw of twenty modulation increments and a charging rate of about C/8,then for temperatures of less than minus twenty degrees Celsius (-4°F.), the active duty cycles of Vsw may be set to zero; for temperaturesbetween minus twenty degrees Celsius and minus ten degrees Celsius (+14°F.), the charging current may be set to about C/20 (resulting in anaverage of about eight modulation increments for each active duty cycleof Vsw); for temperatures between minus ten degrees Celsius and zerodegrees Celsius (32° F.), the charging current may be set to about C/16(resulting in an average of about ten modulation increments for eachactive duty cycle of Vsw); for temperatures between zero degrees Celsiusand ten degrees Celsius (50° F.), the charging current may be set toC/10 (to produce an average of about sixteen modulation increments foreach active duty cycle of Fsw); for temperatures between ten degreesCelsius and seventy degrees Celsius (158° F.), the charging rate may beset to about C/8; above seventy degrees Celsius, the charging rate maybe set to about C/100, (the active duty cycle of Fsw then varyinggenerally between one modulation increment and two modulation incrementsin successive ten second intervals).

In a less precise control system, the programming of processor 18-10 maysimply provide a table of numbers of modulation increments for theactive duty cycle of Fsw according to respective ranges of measuredtemperature readings in digital form and the values of measured chargingcurrent may not enter into the selection of modulation increments. Insuch an open loop system, the sampling of charging current may be usedfor the fuel gauge function during normal operation of the hand heldunit such as indicated at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2, or in FIGS. 10, or at12-10, FIG. 12. As described with reference to FIG. 12, the circuitry ofFIG. 18 may be permanently associated with the hand held device 10,rather than being a permanent part of the battery pack. As anotherembodiment, the circuitry of FIG. 18 may be a permanent part of thebattery pack along with a casing 60, FIG. 4, while the rechargeablebattery means 18-20, FIG. 18, may be readily removable from casing 60 soas to be replaceable without replacement of components such as 18-10,18-22, 18-24, 18-26, 18-28, 18-30, and 18-32. The transducer 18-30 neednot be in physical proximity with the battery means 18-20. The processor18-10 and switch means 18-22 can be part of the same silicon chip, forexample. As indicated at 18-42, sensing means 18-28 may also receive ananalog measure of battery voltage as indicated by a V(BATT) input at18-42 and/or an analog measure of input charging voltage V(+CHG) asindicated at 18-44, and supply such analog measures to an analog todigital channel of processor means 18-10.

In generating the Vsw waveform, the processor 18-10 may load a numberequal to the number of desired modulation increments for the active dutycycle of Vsw into a register, and apply a suitable turn on voltage toline 18-27 until a number of clock pulses of oscillator means 18-32 hasbeen counted corresponding to the number selected.

As indicated in FIG. 22, the voltage across current measuring resistor18-26, FIG. 18, may be supplied via line 18-38 to a low offset voltagelinear amplifier 22-10. The output signal at 22-12 from amplifier 22-10and the analog signals of multiconductor line 18-40 are supplied torespective sample and hold circuits of component 22-14. Successivesamples of the battery current measurement waveform such as indicated atns1, ns2, ns3, ns4, . . . , ns32, ns33, . . . , FIG. 21, may be selectedby means of microprocessor 22-16 which is controlled by clock 18-32.Each sample may be obtained over a sample interval which may be equal tothe clock period interval of one-sixth microsecond, for example, and maybe held until it is converted to digital form by component 22-18 andsupplied to a register of microprocessor 22-16 e.g. via conductors of adata bus forming part of the interconnecting means 22-19. The otheranalog signals are similarly sampled and transmitted e.g. to respectivefurther registers of microprocessor 22-16.

The microprocessor 22-16 may be programmed to compute a new averagebattery charge rate with each sample of actual battery current after thefirst N samples. The microprocessor would also take account of anychanges in battery temperature, for example. As a specific example, itmay be desired to maintain a maximum battery charging rate consistentwith assurance of prolonged battery life, e.g. avoiding an excessiveovercharge rate as discussed in relation to FIG. 6.

As a simplified example, processor means 18-10 may include a stored lookup table wherein for respective temperature ranges, respective differentsettings for the desired average battery charging current are entered.An exemplary table based on FIG. 6 is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                        Exemplary Table Of Desired                                                    Average Battery Charging                                                      Current As A Function Of                                                      Temperature (See FIG. 6.)                                                                               Corresponding                                       Temperature  Average Battery                                                                            Nominal                                             Range (°F.)                                                                         Charging Current                                                                           n Value                                             ______________________________________                                        Below 2.5    Zero         0                                                   2.5 to 35    C/100        1                                                   35 to 76     C/20         5                                                   76 to 98     C/10         10                                                  98 to 112.5  C/6.7        15                                                  Over 112.5   Zero         0                                                   ______________________________________                                    

If at the initiation of a battery charging operation, the temperaturewere in the range from 76° F. to 98° F., then a number ten (n=10) wouldinitially be inserted into a duty cycle register. At the start of eachoperating cycle, switch means 18-22 would be turned on, and clock pulsesof clock oscillator 18-32 would be counted until the numbercorresponding to the n value stored in the duty cycle register wasreached. Switch means 18-22 would then be turned off.

For the case of closed loop control, sampling would take place as shownin FIG. 21. After sample ns32, a value of actual charging current wouldbe calculated. If for example, the average actual current werecalculated at 0.10C, and the battery temperature remained in the samerange of 76° F. to 98° F., there would be a zero error and the value often would remain in the duty cycle register.

With successive samples of actual battery current and successivetemperature readings, if the actual battery current were found toincrease to 0.11C, the error of 0.01C could cause one count to besubtracted from the duty cycle register. If a new temperature range weremeasured, then the corresponding nominal n value from the foregoingtable could be inserted into the duty cycle register. A moresophisticated control procedure taking account of further variables andnarrower temperature ranges can be readily constructed based on theforegoing explanation.

The microprocessor 22-16 may be programmed to sample battery currentduring deep discharge of the battery means and during portable operationto obtain a measure of remaining battery life which may be displayed bythe portable unit. See for example, Tables A and B herein.

Features of a preferred implementation of FIGS. 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21 and22 include the following by way of example and not of limitation:

(1) Constant frequency duty cycle repetition rate for Vsw, e.g. afraction of the clock rate a component 18-32 corresponding to a desirednumber of modulation increments per cycle of Vsw.

(2) Digitally selectable duration for the active duty cycle of Vsw.

(3) Current in inductor 18-24 may reach zero before the end of eachcycle of Vsw as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20B over a range of numbersof modulation increments including a maximum charging rate, e.g. C/8,for battery 18-20.

(4) Vsense at 18-38 is measured via a low offset voltage linearamplifier, a sample and hold circuit, and an analog to digitalconverter, e.g. as indicated in FIG. 22.

(5) Processor 18-10 obtains a measure of battery current during bothbattery charging and battery discharging operations.

(6) Current sense resistor 18-26 adds little to the resistance ofbattery means 18-20.

(7) The actual analog current pulse waveform in resistance 18-26 isdeliberately under-sampled to alias the resultant waveform (as indicatedin FIG. 21) to a very low frequency so that processor 18-10 can readilyobtain a measure of average charging current without requiring a highprocessor operating rate.

(8) Processor 18-10 selects the duty cycle of Vsw according to ambienttemperature to prolong battery life and enhance reliability of thecomplete hand held unit.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION

From one standpoint, the illustrated embodiment exemplifies a method ofoperation in a battery charging system wherein current is intermittentlysupplied from a voltage source means, e.g. V(+CHG), FIG. 18, to achargeable battery means 18-20 via an energy storage means, e.g.inductance 18-24. The circuit arrangement is such that battery chargingcurrent continues to flow from the energy storage means to the batterymeans, e.g. via diode 18-36, at each interruption of the current flow atcurrent regulator means 18-22. The intermittent actuation of currentregulating means 18-22 produces a fluctuating battery charging currentsuch as represented in FIGS. 19 and 20B which fluctuates in each of thesuccessive operating cycles.

In order to obtain a measure of average battery charging current, thesampling means of component 18-10 is operated in an aliased asynchronousmanner relative to the operating cycles of the battery charging currentwaveform such that battery charging current is sampled at respectivedifferent sampling times e.g. ts1, ts2, ts3, . . . , FIG. 20B, inrespective different operating cycles e.g. cycles S1, S65, S129, . . .FIG. 20A, over a certain aliased sampling time interval, e.g. asrepresented at ns1 to ns32, FIG. 21. Because of the clock rate of clockoscillator 18-32, FIG. 18, e.g. six megahertz, the waveform of eachoperating cycle such as shown in FIG. 19 could be sampled a number oftimes, e.g. at intervals of one-sixth microsecond, such intervals beingtermed potential sampling intervals. In aliased sampling however, agiven cycle of the battery charging current may not be sampled at all,and for example, as shown in FIG. 20B, sampling may take place atintervals of about sixty-four operating cycles but asynchronously to therepetition interval of the operating cycles, so that successive actualsampling intervals such as ts1, ts2, ts3, ts4, . . . , FIG. 20B, scanthrough the potential sampling points, in each of a succession ofaliased sampling cycles, each such aliased sampling cycle having aduration, for example, greater than one millisecond (e.g. 43.696milliseconds).

If, for example, the sampling takes place at N respective differentpotential sampling intervals, covering the potential sampling points ofthe operating cycle, then after N samples have been obtained, the samplevalues can be added and an average obtained as a measure of averagebattery charging current. With each new sample such as sample N plusone, the earliest sample, e.g. sample number one, can be discarded, anda new average value calculated.

In the exemplary embodiment, the battery or environmental sensing means18-28 in conjunction with transducer 18-30 may measure an ambienttemperature related to the temperature of the battery means 18-20 anddetermine an optimum battery charging rate based at least in part on themost recent measurement of battery temperature.

For example, for a given chargeable battery means the processor means18-10 may be programmed to select a maximum battery charging rateconsistent with assurance of prolonged battery life, e.g. avoiding anexcessive overcharge rate as discussed in relation to FIG. 6.

As an example, processor means 18-10 may include a stored look up tablewherein for each respective temperature range of significance,respective different settings for the desired average battery chargingcurrent are entered.

By way of example, where there is a number of potential discretesampling intervals per operating cycle equal to the fifth power of two(32), sampling may be effected at time intervals equal to about thefifth power of two (32) times the duration of an operating cycle, orabout the tenth power of two (1024) times the duration of a discretesampling interval. For the example of a clock rate of six megahertz, thepotential discrete sampling intervals may have a duration of one-sixthmicrosecond (about 167 nanoseconds).

Thus, the time between samples may be substantially longer than onemicrosecond, e.g. of the order of one-sixth of a millisecond.

For the case where the clock time period is one-sixth of a microsecond,and the operating frame interval of an operating cycle is equal to e.g.the fifth power of two (32) times such clock time period, the operatingframe period is itself greater than one microsecond (e.g. 5.33microseconds).

It can be seen from FIG. 19 that where switch means 18-22 is to beoperated with a maximum duty cycle limited to twenty clock period timeintervals of one-sixth microsecond, the energy in the inductance 18-24may be essentially dissipated in less than ten microseconds, for examplein a time interval of about one-third microsecond.

From FIG. 19, it can be seen that with a duty cycle of fifty percent,i.e. with switch means 18-22 turned on for sixteen clock periodintervals (about 2.67 microseconds), or even with a duty cycle ofseventy percent, the current in inductance means 18-24 will besubstantially zero at the end of the operating cycle.

With closed loop control of battery charging current, it would befeasible to have duty cycles of switch means 18-22 where appreciablecurrent was flowing in inductance means 18-24 at the beginning ofsuccessive duty cycles, e.g. as indicated at 19-4, FIG. 19, since thesampling means of FIG. 22 would sample current over the entire operatingcycle, and would provide a measure of total current flow in the batterymeans.

Definition of Aliased Sampling Means

In the normal sampling of a periodically fluctuating current, asufficient number of samples would be taken to obtain values in thevicinity of an abrupt change such as at 19-3, FIG. 19. With theexemplary waveform, such an abrupt change may take place at numerousdiscrete positions, suggesting a number of samples per cycle. An"aliased" sampling is one that takes place at intervals greater than theperiod of the fluctuating waveform.

Description of FIG. 23

FIG. 23 illustrates a non-portable system for inserting a measured valueof battery capacity of a rechargeable battery means 23-20 into a memoryof processor, memory and communications means 23-82 of the batterysystem indicated at 23-18, after each deep discharge cycle as effectedby deep discharge controller 23-110. For example the deep dischargecycle of controller 23-110 and the charging cycle of charging controller23-101 may be controlled by a separate non-portable computer system23-71 at a central charging station. This computer system may be capableof communication with the memory of means 23-82 of the battery systemvia communications interface means 23-51A for inserting an accurateactual measurement of battery capacity. The central computer ofnon-portable computer system 23-71 may interrogate the memory of means23-82 for relevant battery history and then selectively determine asuitable charging voltage and charging current at charging interfacemeans 23-51B.

As will be explained with reference to FIG. 24, the memory of component23-82 may contain a non-volatile read only memory which identifies theparticular associated battery pack as to its capacity, rated voltage andother characteristics relevant to conditioning operations. Thus, where aseries of different battery packs have respective read only memoriesidentifying the same, the central charging station may interrogate thedifferent battery packs coupled therewith and select charging and deepdischarge cycle parameters according to the individual characteristicsof the respective different battery packs.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the respectivecomponents of FIG. 23 may correspond with components of FIG. 5 asfollows:

    ______________________________________                                        Component         Corresponding Component                                     of FIG. 23        or Components of FIG. 5                                     ______________________________________                                        Battery System 23-18                                                                            Components 20, 81-83,                                                         and 91-93                                                   Rechargeable Battery                                                                            Rechargeable Battery                                        Mean 23-20        Means 20                                                    Memory and        Battery Processor, Timing                                   Communications Means                                                                            and Memory Circuits 82,                                     23-82             Digital Interface 81 and                                                      Voltage Regulator and                                                         Reset Component 83                                          Battery Voltage   Component 91                                                Monitor 23-91                                                                 Battery Current   Component 92                                                Monitor 23-92                                                                 Battery Temperature                                                                             Component 93                                                Monitor 23-93                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Components 23-71, 23-101, 23-103, and 23-110 may be analogous tocomponents 71, 101, 103 and 110 in FIG. 5. Interface means 23-51A and23-51B may be analogous to interface or connector means 51, FIG. 5.

Description of FIG. 24

FIG. 24 shows a battery conditioning circuit which may be utilized inplace of the central computer controlled charging station of FIG. 23.The system of FIG. 24 may have a receiving device for a hand-held unitas described in Chadima et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,388 (e.g. in referenceto the fifth figure thereof at col. 9, lines 20-31). See also a brochureof Norand Corporation entitled "Route Commander" Portable Data Systemfor bakery distribution, No. 960-382-0884, copyright 1984, a copy of twosections thereof being included in Appendix A hereto.

When a hand-held device indicated at 24-10, FIG. 24, (such as shown inincorporated FIG. 1) is inserted into its receptacle, its charge inputindicated at 24-11 is coupled with contact 24-12A, FIG. 24, of theCHARGE output line 24-12, and a further terminal contact 24-13 iscoupled with contact 24-14A of the CHG CONTROL line 24-14. By way ofexample, the receptacle may receive different hand-held terminals withdifferent battery configurations, and each configuration would provide acharacteristic resistance value between the terminal ground contact suchas 24-15 (connected with ground contact 24-16A of GND line 24-16) andthe terminal charge control contact such as 24-13. The terminalresistance value is thus connected between contact 24-14A and the groundcontact 24-16A, and in parallel with a resistor 24-R1 of a chargecontrol reference network 24-20 which further includes resistors 24-R2,24-R3 and zener 24-Z1. The network receives an activating potential froma charging supply input line 24-21 (+12 V) via a charging supplypotential responsive line 24-21A which is connected between a resistor24-R4 and a zener 24-Z2.

The current flow path between the charging supply input line 24-21 andCHARGE output line 24-12 includes a charge current sensing resistor24-R5 and a charge current regulating transistor 24-Q1. The value ofcharge current is controlled by means of a control circuit 24-22 whichincludes linear operational amplifiers 24-U1, 24-U2 and 24-U3,transistors 24-Q2 and 24-Q3, resistors 24-R6 through 24-R17, andcapacitors 24-C1 and 24-C2. As an example, the linear operationalamplifiers may receive a supply voltage of plus twelve volts (+12 V)relative to ground potential from supply input 24-21, and may be of typeLM2902.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the chargingcurrent supplied by the circuit of FIG. 24 will increase for increasingpotentials at control point 24-23 up to the limit potential of zener24-Z1 (which may for example be 1.25 volts). If for example, the limitpotential for zener Z4-Z2 is 2.50 volts, the maximum potential atcircuit point 24-24 may be designated VR1 with an open circuit betweencontacts 24-14A and 24-16A. This potential VR1 is then progressivelyreduced for respective terminal resistance values between about threetimes the value of 24-R1 (e.g. 5.62 kilohms plus or minus one percent)and about one-third the value of 24-R1, for example.

Exemplary circuit parameters for FIG. 24 are as follows (the letter Kstanding for kilohms):

    ______________________________________                                        Exemplary Circuit                                                             Parameters, FIG. 24                                                           ______________________________________                                        24-U1, 24-U2, 24-U3   Type LM2902                                             24-Q1                 power transistor                                        24-Q2, 24-Q3          Type 2N3904                                             24-R1                 5.62 K (1%)                                             24-R2                 100 K (1%)                                              24-R3                 10 K                                                    24-R4                 4.7 K                                                   24-R5                 one ohm (1%)                                            24-R6                 one kilohm (1 K)                                        24-R7, 24-R8, 24-R9, 24-R10                                                                         10 K (.1%)                                              24-R11, 24-R12        10 K                                                    24-R13, 24-R14        one kilohm (1 K)                                        24-R15                820 ohms                                                24-R16                30.1 K (1%)                                             24-R17                10 K (1%)                                               24-C1, 24-C2          .1 microfarad                                           24-Z1                 LM385BZ (1.25 volts)                                    24-Z2                 LM385BZ (2.50 volts)                                    ______________________________________                                    

Summary for Operation for FIG. 24

In operation, respective different terminals 24-10, (such as terminal 10of incorporated FIG. 1), having respective different charging currentrequirements are provided with respective corresponding ohmic resistancevalues between their contacts such as indicated at 24-13 and 24-15, FIG.24. Thus each respective different terminal 24-10 will automaticallyproduce the respective required charging current by virtue of the actionof control circuit 24-22.

If the charging potential at output 24-12 tends to increase beyond itsrated value, the potential at circuit point 24-25 tends to increase,decreasing the turn on potential supplied to transistior 24-Q3 byamplifier 24-U3.

The potential at 24-24, FIG. 24 may be coupled with a central computersystem such as 23-71 via an analog to digital converter so as toidentify the type of battery means to the central computer. Theresistance between terminals 24-13 and 24-15 would normally be aresistor such as indicated at 24-26 fixedly associated with the batterymeans such as indicated at 24-27, so that replacing a battery means in agiven terminal with a battery means of different ampere-hour capacitywould automatically change the resistance value engaged with terminalcontacts 24-13, 24-15. The computer system 23-71 of FIG. 23 in thismodification, would thus receive an identification of battery capacityalong with other battery parameters, and control battery conditioning(e.g. deep discharge) according to relevant parameters including batterycapacity, while battery charging would be automatically controlled by acircuit such as shown in FIG. 24.

Description of FIG. 25

In FIG. 25, component 25-10 is a custom control chip for integrating thefunctions of components 18-10 and 18-28, FIG. 18, into a singlemonolithic semiconductor element. The external path for supplyingcharging current to battery 25-20 includes transistor 25-22, inductor25-24 and charging current sensing resistor 25-26 which may correspondwith components 18-22, 18-24 and 18-26, FIG. 18. A pulse width modulatedoutput corresponding to that shown in FIG. 20A, is supplied at VS output25-27 of chip 25-10 for controlling the on-time of transistor 25-28which in turn controls the switching action of transistor 25-22.Components 25-30, 25-32 and 25-36 may essentially correspond withcomponents 18-30, 18-32 and 18-36 in FIG. 18.

Charging current sensing input 25-38 may correspond with input 18-38,FIGS. 18-22, and may control circuitry of chip 25-10 such as representedby components 22-10, 22-14, 22-16 and 22-18, FIG. 22. The chip 25-10 isshown as sensing battery voltage (+BATT) via a line 25-42 and a firstresistance voltage divider 25-43A, 25-43B, and is shown as sensingcharging input potential (+CHG) via a line 25-44 and a second resistancevoltage divider 25-45A, 25-45B.

Operating potential (VCC) is supplied to chip 25-10 from charging inputpotential (+CHG) via a voltage regulator 25-46.

Data communications e.g. between chip 25-10 and a central computersystem such as 23-71, FIG. 23, may take place via stage 25-50 for datareception (BPWDATA) and via stage 25-51 for data transmission (BPRDATA).

Chip 25-10 may control battery discharge conditioning via transistor25-60.

The operation of FIG. 25 will be apparent from a consideration of thepreceding Description of FIGS. 18, 19, 20A, 20B, 21 and 22.

Description of FIG. 26

FIG. 26 shows a preferred form of hand-held terminal unit 26-10 whichmay be associated with an external conditioning circuit such as shown inFIG. 24 by means of respective sets of mating contacts 26-11, 26-12A;26-13, 26-14A; 26-15, 26-16A; in the same way as described for FIG. 24.Charging current is supplied to terminal unit 26-19 via CHARGE line26-12, and an analog charge rate control signal may be applied fromterminal unit 26-10 to CHG Control line 26-14, while terminal ground isconnected with GND line 26-16 of the conditioning station.

As in FIG. 24, a charge control reference network 26-20 may comprise aresistance network 26-R1, 26-R2 and 26-R3 and a zener 26-Z1 forreceiving activating potential from a charging supply input line 26-21(+12 V) via a charging supply potential responsive line 26-21A. Acharging current control circuit 26-22 may correspond with that of FIG.24 and controls the charging current supplied via line 26-12 inaccordance with a control signal potential at 26-23.

As in FIG. 24, resistance network 26-20 serves as a control signalgenerating network which provides a default value of control signal atcircuit point 26-23 in the absence of any modifying input from ahand-held terminal unit. By way of example, both for FIGS. 24 and 26,older model terminal units may present an open circuit to stationcontacts 24-14A, 24-16A or 26-14A, 26-16A, and the generating network24-20 or 26-20 by itself may provide a default value of control signalwhich results in the supply of a generally suitable value of chargingcurrent at 24-12 or 26-12, say 130 milliamperes.

In FIG. 26, the potential at circuit point 26-24 may be modified fromthe default value according to information and programming carried bythe terminal unit, for example to produce a rapid charge rate, amoderate charge rate or a maintenance charge rate in dependence on thebattery parameters of the terminal battery means 26-27, ideally so thatan optimum charging rate is selected. Such charging rate can inprinciple take account of the load to be presented to the chargingcircuit by components of the terminal unit which will be functioningduring the charging operation, e.g. terminal circuits for effecting adownloading of data from the memory of the terminal unit.

In a preferred example, the charging current path in FIG. 26 may includean optional current regulator 26-28 which is part of the portableterminal unit. The current regulator 26-28 could be present in caseswhere the terminal might be charged by means of a charging circuitwithout the current control features of circuit 26-22. For the sake ofsimplicity and economy, it is preferred that current regulator 26-28 beunnecessary, (because of the use of a charger configuration such asshown in FIGS. 24 and 26) and therefore preferably current regulator26-28 is omitted, and line 26-33 is directly connected with contact26-11.

The negative terminal of the battery means is preferably returneddirectly to ground potential as indicated at 26-30, without the presenceof a current sensing resistor such as indicated at 25-26, FIG. 25.Correspondingly current sense resistor 24-30, FIG. 24, may be shortcircuited, particularly where the terminal processor means is programmedto accumulate a measure of battery usage. Omission of a current senseresistor such as 24-30 is particularly advantageous where the battery isto supply relatively high peak current as in portable radio frequency(RF) terminals which communicate data on line to a base computer stationan RF link.

In the preferred example of FIG. 26, battery parameter sensing means areillustrated, comprised of a temperature transducer 26-32 for obtaining ameasure of battery temperature, and a battery potential sensing line26-33 for sensing battery terminal voltage. As in FIG. 25, components26-34, 26-35, 26-36 and 26-37 may be on a single semiconductor chip withprocessor, timing and memory means 26-40 of the portable unit.Components 26-35 and 26-36 correspond with components 22-14 and 22-18 ofFIG. 22 and comprise battery parameter input means for supplyingmeasures of battery temperature and battery terminal voltage e.g. inbinary digital format to the processor and memory components. Component26-40 may include the clock-controlled microprocessor corresponding to22-16, FIG. 22, and the interconnections of FIG. 22 have been omitted inFIG. 26 for simplicity of illustration.

According to a feature of the present invention, temperature transducer26-32 may have its signal coupled to a further contact 26-50 via a line26-51. Thus where a charger is present with a cooperating contact 26-52Aand a line 26-52, the control circuit 26-22 can itself adjust chargingcurrent according to battery temperature. Further, the presence of anonzero potential at line 26-51 may indicate that operating potentialhas been applied to transducer 26-32 from a charger circuit. (See e.g.the specific circuit of FIG. 27.)

Description of FIG. 27

FIG. 27 illustrates a new RF terminal unit which may be associated witha non-portable battery conditioning system in a similar way as FIG. 26.In particular, FIG. 27 diagrammatically illustrates an RF terminalsystem 27-10A which removeably receives a rechargeable battery pack27-10B. By way of example, the rechargeable batteries may be containedin a removeable drawer as illustrated in pending application of GeorgeE. Chadima, Jr., et al, U.S. Ser. No. 104,653 filed Oct. 2, 1987, andentitled "HAND-HELD COMPUTER SYSTEM", and this disclosure isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As illustrated in thetenth figure of the incorporated application Ser. No. 104,653, an endcap of the RF terminal unit may be provided with conventional contactorssuch as indicated at 27-11, 27-13, 27-15, 27-17, 27-19 and 27-21, whichprovide for quick connection with the battery pack and terminalcircuitry simply by placing the terminal assembly into a suitablereceptacle, for example, in a delivery vehicle or the like. The deliveryvehicle may be provided with a charger circuit such as indicated at27-22 which may be provided with a conventional terminal unit receptaclesimilar to that shown in page A2 of Appendix A hereto, which receptacleis provided with contacts for quick release engagement with the terminalcontacts 27-11 etc. The battery pack may be provided with a rechargeablebattery 27-27 and a temperature transducer 27-32, e.g. a solid statetype LM335. The terminal assembly designated generally 27-10 further isindicated as including a resistor 27-R1 and a diode 27-D1 in the batterypack and a corresponding resistor 27-R2 and a corresponding diode 27-D2in the terminal itself. It will be noted that the potential acrosstransducer 27-32 will be zero until such time as a charge potential isapplied at contact 27-11, so that the presence of a potential differentfrom zero volts at contact 27-17 and at line 27-33 will indicateapplication of charging potential to the assembly 27-10. The circuitryat 27-35A and 27-35B in FIG. 27 may correspond with the circuitry 26-34and 26-35 in FIG. 26, and may represent a suitable commerciallyavailable integrated circuit for sensing analog values of batteryterminal voltage and temperature, and for supplying correspondingdigital values to a terminal processor such as indicated at 26-40 inFIG. 26. Component 27-37 in FIG. 27 may correspond with components 26-36and 26-37 in FIG. 26 and may receive an output control word from aprocessor corresponding to 26-40 in FIG. 26 for establishing a desiredcontrol signal potential at contact 27-13 as described in detail withreference to FIG. 26.

Furthermore, the processor circuit of FIG. 27 may be provided with alocal area network (LAN) interface 27-39 for communication with exteriordevices via contacts 27-19 and 27-21, for example. Thus the terminal27-10A is not only provided with RF circuitry and antenna means foron-line data interchange with a RF base station, but further the plug-incontacting of the terminal body at 27-19 and 27-21 provides for batchtype transmission between the terminal 27-10 and an exterior station,permitting the batch type downloading of data, for example programming,into the terminal 27-10, and the batch type uploading of stored datafrom the terminal to an external station, for example a printer of avehicle such as previously mentioned.

The incorporated patent application Ser. No. 104,653 shows in the tenthfigure a fifteen pin "D" subminiature connector. Certain pins of thisconnector are indicated at 27-47 through 27-52 in FIG. 27, so that theterminal 27-10 can be coupled by means of such connector with a chargercircuit such as indicated at 27-60, for example by means of a suitableconnecting cable or the like. The charger circuit 27-60 may correspondwith the charger circuit of FIG. 24 or FIG. 26, for example, and mayinclude components connected to the local area network interface 27-39via contacts 27-51 and 27-52.

It will be apparent that the local area network interface 27-39 may beutilized to transmit to the charger 27-22 or 27-60 battery informationsuch as rated battery capacity and hours of use subsequent to a previouscharge as explained in detail with respect to FIGS. 23 and 26.

Discussion of FIGS. 23 through 27

The processor of components 23-27, 25-10, 26-40 or of FIG. 27 can beprogrammed with a schedule of battery charging currents as a function oftemperature such as described with reference to FIGS. 18-22. As anotherexample, reference is made to the lookup table of Appendix B (page B10of APPENDIX B). Generally the charging rate can be adjusted according toa quantitative measure of battery temperature so as to achieve a maximumcharging rate consistent with the specific characteristics of thebattery means 23-20, 25-20, 26-27 or 27-27.

Where battery terminal voltage is measured, abnormally high or lowvalues may represent a defective battery or short circuit, so that theprocessor of component 23-71, 25-10, 26-40, or of FIG. 27 would beprogrammed to provide a shutoff control potential for the chargingcircuit. For example, in FIG. 26, a maximum potential from the converterchannel 26-37 could establish a control potential at circuit point 26-23of 1.25 volts, the limit potential of zener 26-Z1, and produce zerocharging current (corresponding to a shut-off of transistor 24-Q1, FIG.24).

Where the processor and memory means of component 23-82, FIG. 23, or26-40, FIG. 26, or of FIG. 27 keeps track of usage of the hand-heldterminal unit in the portable (off the charger) mode, the accumulatedhours of use along with rated battery capacity can be transmitted to thecentral computer system 23-71 at the start of a conditioning operation,or can be utilized in selecting a suitable computer generated controlword for register 26-36 in FIG. 26 or for component 27-37, FIG. 27. Asdescribed in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,081 (at col. 45, line 58et seq.), when the terminal unit 26-10 or 27-10 is unplugged from theconditioning station, the processor e.g. of 26-40 may increment anelapsed time counter (e.g. a register or memory location of 26-40) by aconstant of two minutes for every minute off charge, until a maximum oftwelve hours has been incremented (six hours of real time). When theterminal unit again is plugged into the charger circuit (such as 26-22or 27-22) the CPU e.g. of 26-40 may then decrement from the incrementedamount to determine charge time, or transmit the incremented amount asbattery information to the central computer of 23-71, FIG. 23. Aspreviously a maximum charge time of twelve hours may be set as theincremented amount if the unit should be deactivated, e.g. by turningoff battery power in the field. (See also col. 47, lines 36-53 ofincorporated patent 4,553,081.)

Generally, the processor of each portable terminal unit may storebattery information such as indicated in TABLE B of incorporated U.S.Pat. No.4,553,081 (col. 14, line 40-col. 15, line 58), and batteryinformation may be transmitted to an external processor e.g. ofcomponent 23-71, FIG. 23, when the terminal unit is plugged into aconditioning station preparatory to conditioning operation, and in anycase the stored data may be used as battery information in thegeneration of charging current control signals, e.g. in the embodimentsof FIGS. 23, 25, 26 and 27.

Generally, communication between a processor, e.g. of components 18-10,23-82, 25-10, 26-40, or of FIG. 27, and an external station may includethe types of commands given in TABLE A of incorporated patent 4,553,081(col. 14, lines 14-39).

In each of the embodiments of incorporated patent 4,553,081 referring tocharging of a spare battery pack (e.g. col. 19, line 61 to col. 20, line4; and col. 48, line 31 to col. 49, line 53), the same description mayapply to charging of a plug-in portable terminal unit, e.g. generally asin FIG. 23, FIG. 26 or FIG. 27. (At col. 49, line 10, "C/B" shouldread--C/8--; see Application U.S. Ser. No. 612,588 filed May 21, 1984,page 76, line 12.)

In the interest of supplying further exemplary detail concerning batteryconditioning operation, flowcharts, timing diagrams and an exemplarylookup table, suitable for the processor of a portable terminal unitsuch as processor 14 of FIGS. 1-12, or of 18-10, FIG. 18, or of 26-40,FIG. 26, or of FIG. 27, and also suitable for a central processor such a23-71, FIG. 23, are shown in APPENDIX B hereto (pages B1 to B10following the ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE). This information wasgenerated for the battery processor 140, FIG. 9B, but was not originallyincluded since it was not considered to be required for practicing thismode of the invention.

It will be apparent that the various modifications and featurespreviously mentioned can be incorporated with one or more features ofFIGS. 18, 19, 20A, 20B, and 21-27. For example, the system of FIGS.18-22 or 25 may form a part of a stationary battery charging systemwhich removably receives spare battery packs, and/or which removablyreceives hand-held units such as shown in FIG. 1. The processor means18-10 or 25-10 as the main processor of a hand-held terminal unit maymeasure actual battery discharge current during use of the hand-heldunit and then control the duration of recharging according to suchmeasure, and/or according to rated battery capacity as stored in a readonly memory of the main processor, or the like. Many furthermodifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in theart from a consideration of the teachings and concepts of the presentdisclosure. ##SPC1##

I claim as my invention:
 1. In a battery conditioning system, a portablebattery powered utilization device of size and weight to be held in onehand during use, and operating from battery power during portableoperation thereof,battery means operatively coupled with saidutilization device for supply operating power thereto during portableoperation, battery conditioning system means coupled with saidutilization device during conditioning operation and operatively coupledwith said battery means and comprising battery conditioning means foreffecting conditioning of said battery means, and battery parametersensing means for sensing a battery parameter, said battery conditioningsystem means including computer operating means operatively coupled withsaid battery conditioning means and controlling condition of saidbattery means in conjunction with said battery parameter sensingmeans,said computer operating means having communications means for thetransmission of data concerning said battery means to a remote station.2. In a battery conditioning system a portable battery poweredutilization device of size and weight to be held in one hand during use,and operating from battery power during portable operationthereof,battery means operatively coupled with said utilization devicefor supplying operating power thereto during portable operation, batteryconditioning system means coupled with said utilization device duringconditioning operation and operatively coupled with said battery meansand comprising battery conditioning means for effecting conditioning ofsaid battery means, and battery parameter sensing means for sensing abattery parameter, said battery conditioning system means includingcomputer operating means operatively coupled with said batteryconditioning means and controlling conditioning of said battery means inconjunction with said battery parameter sensing means, said batteryconditioning system means being responsive to a computer generatedcontrol signal from the computer operating means, and controlling thesupply of charging current to said battery means during a conditioningoperation in accordance with said computer generated control signal,saidbattery conditioning system means comprising a charging current controlcircuit for receiving a control signal and for controlling the supply ofcharging current to said battery means according to said control signal,and control signal generating means for generating a default value ofsaid control signal in the absence of a computer generated controlsignal from the computer operating means, and said computer operatingmeans being coupled with said control signal generating means foraltering the value of charging current away from said default valueaccording to a computer generated control signal from said computeroperating means.
 3. In a battery conditioning system according to claim2, said computer operating means having digital to analog convertermeans for receiving a computer generated control signal therefrom andfor supplying an analog output signal to said control signal generatingmeans for overriding the default value of said control signal accordingto the computer generated control signal from the computer operatingmeans.
 4. In a battery conditioning system according to claim 3, saidcontrol signal generating means comprising a resistance network suppliedwith a charging potential of said battery conditioning system meansduring a battery charging operation, so as to supply a default value ofsaid control signal, and said digital to analog converter means beingcoupled with said resistance network so as to alter the control signalaccording to a computer generated control signal supplied to saiddigital to analog converter means by said computer operating means. 5.In a battery conditioning system, a portable battery powered utilizationdevice of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, andoperating from battery power during portable operation thereof,batterymeans operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplyingoperating power thereto during portable operation, battery conditioningsystem means coupled with said utilization device during conditioningoperation and operatively coupled with said battery means and comprisingbattery conditioning means for effecting conditioning of said batterymeans, and battery parameter sensing means for sensing a batteryparameter, said battery conditioning system means including computeroperating means operatively coupled with said battery conditioning meansand controlling conditioning of said battery means in conjunction withsaid battery parameter sensing means, said computer operating meanshaving communications means for the transmission of data concerning saidbattery means, said communications means comprising digital to analogconverter means in said utilization device and controlled by saidcomputer operating means for supplying an analog output signal to saidbattery conditioning meanssaid battery conditioning means comprising anexternal battery charging circuit external to said utilization device,and having a control signal generating means for establishing a defaultvalue of battery charging current to be supplied by said circuit in theabsence of an analog output signal from said digital to analog convertermeans.
 6. A portable battery powered systemcomprising a portable batterypowered utilization device operating from battery power during portableoperation, battery means operatively coupled with said utilizationdevice for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation,and conditioning control means comprising computer operating meanshaving computer output means for coupling with an external batteryconditioning circuit during conditioning of the battery means, with saidcomputer operating means of said portable utilization device supplying acomputer generated control signal according to a measured batteryparameter to a battery charging circuit to control charging currentsupplied to said battery means during a battery charging operation.
 7. Aportable battery powered system according to claim 6, with said computeroperating means of said portable utilization device supplying a computergenerated control signal according to rated battery capacity of saidbattery means, to an external battery charging circuit to controlcharging current supplied to said battery means during battery chargingoperation.
 8. A portable battery powered system according to claim 6,with said computer operating means of said portable utilization devicesupplying a computer generated control signal according to a measure ofbattery temperature, to an external battery charging circuit to controlthe charging current supplied to said battery means during batterycharging operation.
 9. A portable battery powered system according toclaim 6, with said computer operating means of said portable utilizationdevice supplying a computer generated control signal according to ameasure of battery terminal voltage, to an external battery chargingcircuit to control the charging current supplied to said battery meansduring battery charging operation.
 10. A portable battery powered systemaccording to claim 6, with said computer operating means of saidportable utilization device supplying a computer generated controlsignal according to the charge condition of the battery means, such thata fast charge rate and a slow charge rate are selectively establishedaccording to the charge condition of the battery means at the initiationof a battery charging operation.
 11. A portable battery powered systemaccording to claim 6, with said computer operating means maintaining ameasure of battery usage during portable operation and supplying acomputer generated control signal according to such measure of batteryusage at the initiation of battery conditioning operation.
 12. Aportable battery powered system according to claim 11, with saidcomputer operating means maintaining a measure of battery usage withoutdirectly sensing battery current, such that resistance in series withthe battery means is avoided.
 13. A portable battery poweredsystemcomprising a portable battery powered utilization device operatingfrom battery power during portable operation, battery means operativelycoupled with said utilizing device for supplying operating power theretoduring portable operation, and conditioning control means comprisingcomputer operating means having computer output means for coupling withan external battery conditioning circuit during conditioning of thebattery means,with said computer output means comprising digital toanalog converter means for receiving a computer generated control signalfrom the computer operating means and for supplying an analog outputsignal to an external battery current supply circuit so as to controlthe value of charging current supplied to said battery means.
 14. Aportable battery powered system according to claim 13, with batteryparameter sensing means providing a measure of battery temperature tosaid computer operating means, and said computer operating meansproviding a computer generated control signal in accordance with suchmeasure of battery temperature.
 15. A portable battery powered systemaccording to claim 13, with battery parameter sensing means providingmeasures of battery temperature and battery terminal voltage to saidcomputer operating means, and said computer operating means providing acomputer generated control signal in accordance with said measures ofbattery temperature and battery terminal voltage.
 16. A portable batterypowered systemcomprising a portable battery powered utilization deviceoperating from battery power during portable operation, battery meansoperatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operatingpower thereto during portable operation, and conditioning control meanscomprising computer operating means having computer output means forcoupling with an external battery conditioning circuit duringconditioning of the battery means,with said computer output meanscomprising digital communication means for the transmission of dataconcerning said battery means to an external battery conditioningcircuit.
 17. The method of conditioning a portable utilization devicecontaining rechargeable battery means and data storage means, whichcomprisesstoring data which is a function of said battery means in thedata storage means, coupling said portable utilization device with anexternal conditioning circuit for supplying charging current to therechargeable battery means during a conditioning operation, andcontrolling the rate of charging of the battery means during aconditioning operation in accordance with the data stored in said datastorage means.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storingdata in said data storage means in accordance with rated batterycapacity of said rechargeable battery means.
 19. The method of claim 17,further comprising storing data in said data storage means in accordancewith a measure of battery temperature.
 20. The method of claim 17,further comprising storage data in said data storage means in accordancewith a measure of battery terminal voltage.
 21. The method of claim 17,further comprising storing data in said data storage means in accordancewith a measure of usage of the device portable operation.
 22. The methodof claim 17, further comprising storing data in said data storage meansin accordance with a measure of the usage of the device during portableoperation without reliance upon the sensing of battery currentamplitude.
 23. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling withan external circuit providing for a default value of charging current,and overriding the default value according to the data stored in thedata storage means.
 24. The method of claim 17, further comprisingcontrolling the rate of charging of the battery means in accordance witha measure of the load on the external charging circuit provided by theutilization device as well as the requirement for efficient rechargingof the battery means.